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SB 1607

FREEDOM TRAILS COMMISSION

104th Regular Session Introduced by Meg Loughran Cappel and 15 co-sponsors

Establishes the Illinois Freedom Trails Commission to identify, preserve, educate about, and promote Underground Railroad sites and freedom stories in Illinois.

Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0113
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Bill Summary · SB 1607

SB 1607 — Illinois Freedom Trails Commission Act (Public Act 104‑0113)

Status & timeline
- Introduced: Feb 25, 2025. Passed both chambers May 21, 2025. Sent to Governor June 18, 2025. Approved by Governor and effective Aug 1, 2025. Now Public Act 104‑0113.

Purpose
- Establishes the Illinois Freedom Trails Commission to research, document, commemorate, and promote the journeys of freedom seekers and sites in Illinois associated with the Underground Railroad and related “freedom stories.”

Key provisions
- Establishment and membership
- Creates the Illinois Freedom Trails Commission (“Commission”).
- Composition: a chairperson plus 10 additional gubernatorial appointees (11 members total). Membership should be broadly representative and may include public officials, scholars, and community‑based activists.
- Members serve 4‑year terms, serve without compensation (but may receive expense reimbursement), and vacancies are filled by the Governor.
- Meetings: elect officers at first meeting and annually; meet at chair’s call or on request of seven or more members. Quorum = majority. All meetings subject to the Open Meetings Act; Commission records subject to FOIA.

  • Administrative support and staffing

    • Department of Natural Resources provides administrative support, subject to appropriation.
    • Commission may hire a full‑time professional staff to implement projects, subject to appropriation.

  • Duties and programs

    • Create and maintain an online public website with:
    • An updated database of freedom seekers and journeys through Illinois.
    • Updated maps of Underground Railroad geography in Illinois.
    • A biographical dictionary of relevant individuals (freedom seekers, abolitionist allies, pro‑slavery antagonists).
    • Event calendar, research bibliographies, multimedia, local materials.
    • Work with the State Board of Education to develop an educational program for every public school covering African American history, slavery, the Underground Railroad in Illinois, and Black History Month resources.
    • Develop a speakers’ bureau, support local activities and exhibits, and prioritize engagement with African American communities.
    • Collaborate with the National Park Service Network to Freedom, historical societies, museums, academic programs, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener program, Illinois Office of Tourism, and regional tourism agencies.

  • Historic recognition, preservation, and grants

    • Develop statewide guidelines to evaluate and list Underground Railroad sites and journeys; maintain public list with contact persons.
    • Set standards for markers, signage and help threatened sites with preservation.
    • Grant program (subject to appropriation) to:
    • Research and identify sites/journeys.
    • Develop heritage tourism/promotional activities (exhibits, lectures, symposia, online materials).
    • Support an Underground Railroad cemetery marker program.

  • Reporting

    • Commission required to submit an annual report to the Governor and General Assembly (details in statute).

Who is affected / likely impacts
- Public K‑12 schools (curriculum resources), colleges/universities (research and speakers), local historical societies, museums, African American community organizations, preservation groups, tourism agencies, local governments and site stewards, researchers and genealogists, and heritage tourism businesses. Implementation actions (staffing, grants, preservation assistance) depend on legislative appropriations.

Notes
- Many operational elements (staffing, grants, administrative resources) hinge on appropriations; the Act creates authority and structure but funding will determine near‑term activity levels.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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